LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Robert Freeman, Esq. upon the occasion
of receiving the Ned Pattison Award from the Capital Region Chapter of
the New York Civil Liberties Union on November 12, 2009

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to take note of and
publicly acknowledge individuals who have distinguished themselves
through their exemplary careers, accomplishments, and purposeful lives
of service to their community; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Robert Freeman, Esq. upon the occasion of receiving the Ned Pattison
Award from the Capital Region Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties
Union at its Annual Awards Ceremony to be held on Thursday, November 12,
2009, at the Polish American Community Center, Albany, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Ned Pattison Award celebrates the life and values of
Edward W. "Ned" Pattison, whose work as a public servant and private
citizen showed his concern for the poor and the powerless; he is remem-
bered as a man who stuck to his principles-even when doing so jeopard-
ized his personal ambitions; his extraordinary life sets an example for
all those in public service; and
WHEREAS, Robert Freeman, Executive Director of the New York State
Committee on Open Government, is being bestowed with this most presti-
gious honor in recognition of his dedication to the fair release of
government information to the public; and
WHEREAS, An exemplary leader, Robert Freeman co-authored New York's
pioneering Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and heads one of the few
government agencies in the United States dealing with open records and
freedom of information; and
WHEREAS, Robert Freeman was counsel to the New York State Committee on
Open Government at its founding in 1974, and, two years later, became
the Committee's Executive Director, a position he has held ever since;
and
WHEREAS, Working with limited-resources, Robert Freeman and the
Committee handle thousands of inquires a year and have issued more than
17,000 legal advisory opinions; in one year alone, its website received
1.8 million hits; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his work with the Committee, Robert Freeman
has lectured and conducted seminars throughout the United States as well
as in Canada, Asia, Latin America and eastern Europe; he assisted in
developing Japan's first access-to-records law; at Albany Law School he
has taught "Public Access to Government Information," the only such
course in an American law school; and
WHEREAS, Robert Freeman has published widely and has written such
influential articles as "The Impact of Technology on the Freedom of
Information Law" and "Police Review Boards Meet the Public's Right to
Know," both of which appeared in the New York State Bar Association's
GOVERNMENT, LAW AND POLICY JOURNAL; and
WHEREAS, Robert Freeman earned his law degree from New York University
and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown
University; and
WHEREAS, A man of singular distinction, Robert Freeman has continually
demonstrated extreme competence, extraordinary intelligence and diligent
leadership in his unwavering service to his community and profession;
and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their

profession, have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Robert Freeman, Esq. upon the occasion of receiving the Ned Patti-
son Award from the Capital Region Chapter of the New York Civil Liber-
ties Union on November 12, 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Robert Freeman, Esq.